odie1

We are husband, daughter (10) and myself. We enjoy exploring, fishing, outdoors and culture. We will not be doing an major trekking. It has been our dream to go to Patagonia. We did not want to spend time in BsAs
Dec 14- Arrive BsAs
Dec 15, 16, 17, 18-Chalten- Fight to Calafate (booked), Bus to El Chalten
Dec 19 and 20-Calafate
Dec 21, 22, 23-Natales
Dec 24, 25, 26, 27-Torres del Paine
Dec 28, 29, 30-Arenas
Dec 31, 1, 2-Santiago (flight on the 31st is booked)

We will be using buses to get around except we will pick a car up in Natales to use in TdP.

thursdaysd

My comments on your planning thread about buses still stand. Did you get the morning flight and have you talked to your hotel about the tickets? Have you checked to see what festivities there are on the 31st? I would choose to be in Valparaiso, rather than Santiago.

Huentetu

There are plenty of fireworks in Santiago on the 31st and getting to Valparaíso on the 31st would be just about impossible. Most places want a three day reservation and pries double or triple and returning before the second is another headache.

I would recommend not staying in the center of Santiago on the 31st, but up in Las Condes so you can see the fireworks there and move around more easily. There are fireworks in the center but it is a madhouse as a good stretch of the Alameda is closed down. The first is an obligatory holiday: everything that isn't a restaurant, petrol station or Mom/Pop store has to close. The metro and some buses still run. Tours still run. Transport to the airport is just as quick from there as from the center.

odie1

thursdaysd-We arrive in Calafate at 4:00-last bus out is 6:00, will talk to the hotels about tickets for us. I am working with someone in Arg who is helping with the planning.

We really don't care much for festivities, with loads of crowds etc.Seeing fireworks could be fun, but not a must.

Huentetu-We were going to stay at the Ritz Carlton, using Marriott points, would that not be OK? We figured that would be open and have to serve their guests, and perhaps we may even have a decent meal. We arrive in SCL at 10:10 AM on Dec 31.

thursdaysd

Good luck with the 6:00 bus. I wouldn't plan something that tight, but it's your trip.

Huentetu

The Ritz is well placed, near a metro stop and walking distance to a lot of restaurants. Most of the big hotels do a fancy, and very expensive, NYE dinner. I would email them closer to your dates and ask if there is any alternative for guests. There should be places open on nearby Isidora Goyenechea, although they may close earlier than usual so staff can get home.

I always remember my parents going to spend the night in a nice hotel in the city they lived in so my mother could have some champagne on NYE and not have to drive. To their surprise the tables for dinner were all booked and the only alternative was room service, so they had scrambled eggs and champagne in their room. So always ask what the set up is!

lchin

The outskirts of Bariloche are beautiful - not the city itself but the northern Peninsula and the circuito chico.